This sweet & tangy No-Cook BBQ Sauce recipe comes together in 5 minutes with simple ingredients, ready for you to slather on Baked BBQ Salmon or Roaster Oven Ribs, or use as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets or french fries.
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Did you know you can make homemade barbecue sauce in mere minutes, no cooking required? Plus, when you make your own sauce, you have 100% control over the flavor, so you can go bolder, spicier, sweeter, or tangier—it’s totally up to you!
This no-cook BBQ sauce is the perfect blend of sweet, smoky, and tangy, made with simple pantry staples. And no simmering, just stir and go. It’s the best BBQ sauce to keep in your fridge all summer long, and a grilling season must-have for bbq chicken, ribs, burgers, or any of your favorite BBQ recipes.
For a low and slow-cooked BBQ sauce recipe, try my Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauce. It's tangy, zesty, and better than any store-bought sauce.
❤️You're Going to Love This
- Ready in 5 minutes. No cooking required, perfect for weeknights or last-minute cookouts.
- Easy homemade bbq sauce recipe with sweet, tangy, and smoky flavor
- Made with pantry staples and easy to customize just the way you like it
🍅Ingredients
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.
- Ketchup. I used regular ketchup as the tomato base, but you can try a flavored ketchup like chipotle or jalapeno if you're feeling spicy.
- Brown sugar and molasses. For deep, rich, earthy, sweet flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar. ACV balances out the sweetness and adds tangy flavor that isn't too sharp. I tend to lean tangy, so if you're into sweeter sauce, start with 1 tablespoon, taste, and adjust.
- Dijon mustard. Mustard adds even more tang and great flavor.
- Smoked paprika. Adds a lovely earthy, smoky flavor. If you don't have it, use regular paprika.
- Liquid smoke, optional. If you like smoky BBQ sauce, add a couple drops of liquid smoke. Liquid smoke flavor can be strong, so start small, taste, then adjust.
- Hot sauce. For a little heat and even more bold flavors, add hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes.
🌶️Variations or Substitutions
- Vinegar. If you don't have ACV, I would use red wine vinegar or even balsamic vinegar before I reached for the white vinegar -- it just too harsh. Or try one of these apple cider vinegar substitutes.
- Mustard. Instead of Dijon, use yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon of dry mustard, or one of these substitutes for Dijon mustard.
- Soy sauce. Instead of Worcestershire -- both add earthy umami flavor.
- Spices. Try a little bit of chili powder, onion powder, or cumin -- or something a little unusual like cinnamon or allspice.
🥣How to Make No-Cook BBQ Sauce
Step 1: Whisk or stir all ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste and adjust.
Step 2: Slather onto ribs, chicken wings, or burgers, or use as a dipping sauce. We love it on this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken and Baked BBQ Salmon.
👉Helpful Hint: Taste and adjust. Add more sugar for sweetness, vinegar for tang, or hot sauce for heat.
✅Top Tips
- Double the batch. BBQ sauce stores well, so go ahead and make a double batch!
- Want a thicker sauce? Simmer over low heat until reduced.
🎁Storage
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to one week. Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months and thaw in the refrigerator.
❓FAQ
Yes! It actually tastes better with time. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
You can adjust the sweetness to your taste. Leave out the molasses, reduce the sugar, or swap with honey or maple syrup if you prefer.
A dash of hot sauce, cayenne, or chili powder is an easy way to make your own spicy bbq sauce.
Yes! Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months. Thaw in the fridge before using.
For thicker BBQ sauce, simmer it in a small saucepan over low heat until reduced to your desired thickness. For a quick thickener, add a little tomato paste before simmering. Taste to adjust the flavors as necessary.
😋Easy Dinner Ideas with BBQ Sauce
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📖 Recipe
No-Cook BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- optional: liquid smoke and hot sauce, to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until combined. Use as a dipping sauce or brush onto chicken, ribs, or salmon before baking or grilling.
Notes
- Recipe yields about 1 cup.
- Taste and adjust. Add more sugar for sweetness, vinegar for tang, or hot sauce for heat.
- Double the batch. BBQ sauce stores well, so go ahead and make a double batch!
- Want a thicker bbq sauce? Simmer over low heat until reduced.
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